Alicia Silverstone Stands Her Ground

Most people associate celebrity with SUVs, Manolo Blahniks, and Malibu beach homes. But not Alicia Silverstone. The actress, 30, has chosen to parlay her fame into a life of activism. She has aligned herself with organizations such as PETA—which named her the sexiest vegetarian alive—and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which encourages humane alternatives to animal testing.

Silverstone shares her commitment to the issues she cares about with her husband, Christopher Jarecki, front man for the alt-rock band Little Wolverines. After dating for nine years, the couple tied the knot in 2005. Together, they adopted a vegan diet, which they have maintained for nine years. And their Los Angeles home—complete with solar panels and a clothesline—puts the planet first.

But Silverstone hasn't forgotten her first love: acting. Following her critically acclaimed turn in The Graduate on Broadway, she recently graced the stage again in a Los Angeles production of Speed-the-Plow, by award-winning playwright David Mamet. Here, the multifaceted star opens up about her environmentally-conscious lifestyle and her rock-solid relationship—proving that she's anything but clueless.

How did you meet your husband?We met [in 1996] at a movie theater in L.A. that plays old movies. We've been dating ever since.

Did you kiss on your first date?Our first date was the day after we met, and he did spring a kiss on me. I shut my mouth really tight—it was literally like he pounced on me out of nowhere! It was so surprising that it was charming.

You dated Chris for nine years before you tied the knot. What took you so long?I was never unsure about him, but we never felt the need to get married. We're very unconventional and [marriage] just felt sort of conservative. Then as time went on, we realized it could be our own experience. But I ended up wearing a white dress anyway!

Has marriage changed your dynamic?I don't think it has, to be honest. We don't live by rules; we just really love each other and we're best friends.

Which is more important in a relationship, chemistry or friendship?Friendship. If you just have chemistry, you're screwed. There's no relationship there—I've done that. The biggest things are respect and great communication.

What's the first word that comes to mind when you think of your husband?Joy. Chris is the one person I could spend hours with. I've never, ever turned around and said, "I just need space." He's the one.